It all started with land in a tiny space in Central Germany. Here, the pine trees sit side-by-side as far as the eyes can see. This land, though not great in size, feels vast as the ocean of trees that stretches far beyond the horizon. What may lay below is a mystery.
Wherever you go, there is a sense of an ancient presence. A consciousness reaching out from the grass and echoing in the trees. There is magic hidden in the smallest spaces, in the mist and streams. Forests filled with untold stories and mysteries.
Yet, the times of the Celts is long gone. Our stories forgotten. Only the winds whispering in the pine trees, and streams laughing to themselves, carry an echo of the legacy of the land. This is my homeland. Here my journey with land began.
I spent most of my childhood outside in the fields with my grandparents. Life revolved around the harvest and the changing seasons. This is when land first became important. My grandmother had her own ways with this land she grew up on. She could tell the upcoming winter weather by the vegetation in the fields. Over time, land for me started to have a character and a voice. A bond began to grow, and soon this land became my sacred space. Here I was free to discover who I truly was, and what motivated me. The land called back my healing lineage and is my greatest artistic inspiration even today.
I only understood what this relationship meant when I moved to a land that was not native to me. The presence of the Irish Land and its Spirit was so strong. I put my ear to the ground and listened. Soon stories emerged from the stones, the waters and the trees. The land was speaking to me. A firework of inspiration exploded. Land was no longer just an inspiration but part of the art in my paintings, photographs, Medicine Drums and eventually writings.
This is when Between Mountains and Oceans was birthed. A space to hold and share all these stories and gifts with you. A space to bring understanding and healing. As we move into a time when our relationship with land is collectively rethought, these wisdoms can bring us back into balance with nature and ourselves. May it inspire you to connect to unknown spaces within and outside yourself.
Love,
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